A sculpture representing Martin Luther King Jr.‘s ideals and principles was chosen Thursday to be the focal point of the King Memorial Commons.

The 17-foot concrete sculpture was unanimously chosen by a selection panel for NIU’s $75,000 national sculpture competition.

The hourglass-shaped cement sculpture, “Balance of Equity,” was explained by its sculptor, Dann Nardi, in a statement accompanying his proposal.

The Bloomington artist said it is “intended both as a tribute to King” and “as a symbol of the principles, values and ideals he so fervently championed.

“The concrete will be predominantly black and white in a pattern with a secondary color stratified through the black and white,” Nardi said.

Finance and Planning Director Eddie Williams chaired the competition’s selection jury. He said according to panel members, the winning sculpture “is extremely successful in challenging viewers to think about Martin Luther King’s life and legacy.”

The selection panel of about ten jurors included NIU students, faculty and staff as well as three well-known artists.

Last fall the panel chose four finalists from 38 entries nationwide. The three other finalists’ sculptures included a 35-foot tall aluminum alloy open column abstract work and two representational statues of King.

Williams’ assistant, Patricia Perkins, said the $75,000 Nardi will receive includes the cost of the completed sculpture and pays for a portion of its installation in the commons.

Nardi said his initial work building forms will take place in his Bloomington studio before he moves it to the commons to cast the concrete sections. He estimates it will take him about six weeks to actually cast and build the cones at the commons.

Nardi said the sculpture “should last an easy 100 years since there will be no real stress on this material, as there is on a bridge or highway.”

“The way I work with concrete outdoors, the sculpture starts out right away looking like it’s in a state of aging,” Nardi said. He added that this will make the sculpture weather well.